In high school I truly felt abandoned. My parents had been divorced for many years, and financial support from my dad was rare. My mom was the sole provider for our...

I paused along the edge of the pond during my morning walk to take a picture of the blue heron that stood motionless among the reeds and grasses. A perfect mirror...

During the school holidays I offered to take my two young grandchildren to the botanical gardens for an outing. We planned to purchase some ice cream to eat as we walked....

I began placing sticky notes that shared a quote or Bible verse in my daughter’s lunch box when she was in fourth grade and continued the tradition through her middle school...

Hopping from one place to another, I moved between the homes of my friends and relatives as I struggled to find employment in a city far from home. Grappling with financial...

My oldest grandson, Judah, was the only grandchild for four years. During this time, he received lots of attention. Then along came Addison. Although he loved his new cousin, Judah did...

I was at a loss and feeling depressed as I finished a difficult freshman year of college. I had dreamed of becoming a doctor, but I had failed a class and...

One winter morning as I was walking to the church where I am the pastor, I thought of an older couple that lived down the street and wondered if they would...

In my work with adults with developmental disabilities, I spend part of my time in the wood workshop. Often I sit next to Luca, who loves to sand wooden spoons. Sometimes...

I’ve run 25 marathons, and I’ve enjoyed and finished strong in many of them. However, some were not so enjoyable. There was one where I struggled with considerable pain and fatigue...